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Foundation seeking bingo permit
Founded in 1998, Opp organization currently funds Danley Park
Published Monday, June 1, 2009
Covington County Sheriff Dennis Meeks confirmed Monday that the local non-profit Danley Charitable Foundation has submitted an application to operate bingo for charitable purposes.
Meeks, speaking at a meeting of the Kiwanis Club, said that the Opp-based 501(c)(3) organization has submitted the application, but he has not yet issued a permit.
John Ellis, a trustee in the Danley Charitable Foundation, explained that the non-profit organization was created in 1988 and its main project is financing and maintaining the Danley Charitable Park on U.S. Hwy. 331 south of Opp. Ellis’ grandfather founded the Danley Furniture Company.
“The foundation was set up when Danley Furniture was sold to Heilig-Meyers,” Ellis said. “With some of the money from the sale, we were able to open a park for people who need a place to have family reunions and things like that. At this point, the money that is in the foundation is basically used to keep up the park.”
Ellis said the foundation wanted to “put its name in the hat” as a group that would be interested in operating bingo in Covington County.
“I believe it would help the county,” he said. “All we’re looking for is something that may allow us to help the charities in the county. Right now, we’re just taking a look at it and would be interested in it. We’re just looking into it to see if we could get a little money to where we could sponsor scholarships and things like that for people in the county.”
Ellis’ mother, Peggy Ellis, is also a trustee in the foundation. She is also the mother of District 1 Commissioner David Ellis.
A local act passed in the Alabama legislature in 1993 sets rules for charitable bingo in Covington County. Those rules give the sheriff authority to issue $100 permits for charitable bingo and set guidelines for issuing those permits.
Constitutional Amendment 565, approved by statewide vote in 1994, allows charitable bingo in Covington County and charges the county commission with setting rules for it. The county commission has been given proposed rules by its attorney, Julie Moody. However, the commission has not publicly discussed those rules and has denied requests by this newspaper for copies.
The issue is expected to be discussed at next Monday’s county commission meeting.
Comments
Posted by sunbug (anonymous) on June 2, 2009 at 12:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh yea Alabama.... Let's just start Gambling right here in the bible belt. What you need to do is give your land to the Lord instead of relying on your self. Wake up people. NO GAMBLING!!!
Posted by rabbit2300 (anonymous) on June 2, 2009 at 1:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
NO GAMBLING!!!!! I am with you. By the way if anyone is interested my church is got a singes trip to Biloxi if anyone is interested. We are also selling $1 Raffle tickets for a $100 walmart gift card.
Posted by sadshoper (anonymous) on June 2, 2009 at 7:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
rabbit2300, HA! I love it, I'll take one of those Raffle tickets.....But, don't tell. I wouldn't want people to think I was Gambling...........
Posted by sourhomealabama (anonymous) on June 2, 2009 at 7:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Alabama!
Let's help Governor Bob Riley clean the "Sour smell" of corrupt and illegal Bingo out of ALABAMA! Please visit SourHomeAlabama.com
Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on June 2, 2009 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
rabbit2300 Haha that was great!
Posted by billybob (anonymous) on June 2, 2009 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess its OK for a church group to go to Biloxi to gamble....just not here. I'm sorry but you don't think gambling in Biloxi destroys lives, just gambling here?
Posted by winkie (anonymous) on June 2, 2009 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gambling is gambling no matter where you do it. The thing is if people would realize how addicting gameing is and just seek out a few people who have lost EVERYTHING for NOTHING. If you want to gamble go to Florida, buy a lottery ticket, take the bus to Mississippi , Georgia or better yet take a holiday to Las Vegas, just keep Alabama gameing free.
SAY NO TO GAMBLING IN ALABAMA!!
Posted by bluesclues (anonymous) on June 2, 2009 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thats the way to be...DONT let Alabama grow people...live in the backwoods forever, but keep taking that tour bus to mississippi....what a bunch of hypocrits.
Posted by dane (anonymous) on June 2, 2009 at 7:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sure let's pass up this revnue, that people will only lose their homes due to higher property taxes and sales tax won't be too bad most people will be able to eat one good meal a day. Wake up Covington county this is a chance to help our county government out of a major jam. If a person is going to gamble away his house payment do you really belive 150 miles will stop him? Maybe this will bring other jobs to Covington County and so many people won't have to work off shore and in other counties just to make a good living. Sorry time to get off the soap box,we just don't need to lose this chance people.
dane
Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on June 2, 2009 at 8:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
winkie wrote..."The thing is if people would realize how addicting gameing and just seek out a few people who have lost EVERYTHING for NOTHING." Here we go again. I could care less about the FEW idiots that spend there whole paycheck gambling. Most people that gamble don't do that,its common sense.
Posted by voiceofreason (anonymous) on June 2, 2009 at 8:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the facts are that the majority of alabamians don't want gambling in this state. Remember the lottery vote??? Just because a few low life types have chosen to try to live their vegas dreams by calling slot machines "electronic bingo" doesn't mean we have to fall for the scam. If you want gambling then move to where it's legal. Hop the bus to mississippi or atmore and don't come back. Please don't denigrate the life in this small rural town that we love with a hidden tax on the poor and elderly in the name of entertainment and or a game of "chance". How many 17 story mansions are in Atmore?? But they sure have four prisons.... Guess who's making the big money off bingo there?
Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on June 3, 2009 at 5 a.m. (Suggest removal)
voiceofreason wrote... "Remember the lottery vote?" Well,uh,oh yeah I remember now. That was how many YEARS ago? I think its time to vote again.Things change you know.
Posted by billybob (anonymous) on June 3, 2009 at 7:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Some people don't want anything to change here. The city limits sign should say "Welcome to Andalusia, turn your watch back 50 years".
Posted by winkie (anonymous) on June 3, 2009 at 11:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There is a Time and Place for everything, Alabama IS NOT the Place. People need to spend more Time with their Families.
Change? I was borned in Andalusia,Al in 1948 and I have seen her grow and change. We went frome Roses Mall to Super Center Wall Mart, from Alatex to Shaw, from Count Darling Cheverolet to Massey. We've come from dusty roads to interstates. I could go on and on about how proud I am of my hometown and we have done it without gambling. There is enough heartach over drugs without bringing people to even a level lower. If you people think gambling will make the State grow then you are right, more robbery's, rape's, murder,drugs.Thats the CHANGE you will get. Hope everyone will be ready for higher taxes to pay for the piper that you dance to.
Posted by Estragon (anonymous) on June 3, 2009 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think everyone can agree that gambling is not the most productive endeavor in which a person can engage. Certainly, as a society, we should do everything to encourage people to use their time and resources in a more positive manner. But in the list of bad-things-a-person-can-do-to-himself, gambling is probably not even in the top 10, and it seems to be pervasive, even in Covington County.
The question is not whether gambling is good or not, the question is whether it is so bad that government should deny its citizens the free choice to engage in the practice. Like alcohol sales, the state has decided who, when, and where gambling can lawfully occur. Limiting gambling to a nonprofit organization for raising money to support the organization's charitable purposes, and limiting it to certain betting games, is how the state now handles this issue.
The focus of this debate should not be about gambling, but whether the government should take away a person's freedom to choose whether or not to do something. Justin Shuver in his column states that he "chooses" to gamble. I agree with him that gambling is a choice that he should have the right to make, that the practice of gambling does not rise to that level of harm to society that it is necessary for the government to take away this freedom.
Posted by StabbingWestward (anonymous) on June 3, 2009 at 5:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Personally, I don't gamble, I don't buy raffles, and I don't go to the VFW and play the machines. People are gambling illegally in our county as we speak, I know a lot of Poker Tournaments at all the bars around here. Sounds to me like some people around here don't want gambling but i don't hear anyone trying to stop the poker tournaments. I have known people who put 5 dollars in to play and do it for the fellowship not the money. I also know people who put 100 dollars in and walk away without gas money for next week. Like it or not there IS gambling in this county. Why not let the schools and roads around here benefit from it. I think it would be different if we were located in the middle of the state, but you can drive 20 minutes from Andalusia and get lottery tickets, and a lot of people do it. Why then, deny the revenue that Alabama have new schools and nice roads. I believe in being proud of where you are from, but why be proud of all these crappy roads and run down schools that could fall down in the next thunderstorm, let alone the hurricanes we get. This county and this state is in trouble, We are among the lowest in Education, Lowest in wages, Some of the worst roads i have seen, and so many run down buildings. If you want to be proud of your state and county, why hold it back and not let it grow. I admit I am not a southerner, I am a yankee, but I enjoy this state, and area, i mean I have moved away and always come back, there are good people here. But with the revenue you could provide something for your children to do besides drugs. I am from Sturgis SD, and when i was growing up it was the size of Andalusia. We had a Pamida (think walmart and Target mixed) Fast food and all just like Andalusia, but we had a Recreation center with 5 fullcourt indoor basketball courts, weightroom, theater, arcade, Olympic Size swimming pool, and an indoor track. We had a lot of neat little clubs and parks for the youth to join. It was great. What is sad Is I love this area, but I don't have kids as over yet solely because I don't know if I want them to grow up where there is only drinking, drugs , and sex for the youth around here. It's noble to not want gambling, but it is not smart to let your area die for a noble opinion. Think we are not dieing, read the article on the bridges we still have not fixed because we are waiting on federal money. With the lottery and legal gambling we probably wouldn't be left waiting for money.
Posted by MICHAELA0610 (anonymous) on June 3, 2009 at 5:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
COME ON PEOPLE THATS ENOUGH!WE ARE FIGHTING OVER THE GOD GIVIN RIGHT TO MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICE.YOU NEED TO GROW UP THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN GAMBLING THAN TAKING A RAFFLE TICKET FOR A QUILT FOR THE SCHOOLS IT IS ALL A GAMBLE THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS GOOD GAMBLING OR BAD GAMBLING!WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO MAKE THIS DECISION FOR EVERYONE IN THE COUNTY JUST BECAUSE WE MAY THINK IT IS FOR THE GREATER GOOD.WE ARE NOT THE JUDGE THERE IS ONLY ONE!THE SIMPLE SOLUTION TO THIS IS IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH IT AND DON'T WANT TO BE AROUND IT ,DON'T GO.THIS COULD TURN OUT TO BE A GOOD THING FOR THE COUNTY THAT IS SO FAR IN DEBT THAT THEY MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO PULL THEMSELFS UP.I HAVE LIVED HERE ALL OF MY LIFE AND WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THIS COUNTY GROW (BESIDES JUST ANDALUSIA) ,OPP WAS JUST ABOUT COMPLETLY WIPED OUT BY THE BYPASS,AND FLORALA HAS NOTHING LEFT BUT RESTERAUNTS AND ANTIQUE STORES THIS WOULD BRING IN AT LEAST 100 JOBS TO START OFF WITH.AS IT IS NOW THERE IS NOWHERE IN COVINGTON COUNTY TO MAKE A DECENT LIVING.I'M NOT TRING TO SWAY YOU IN ANYWAY BUT WE AS A WHOLE NEED TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE NOT JUST OUR SIDE.AND LASTLY YOU THINK THIS WILL BRING DRUGS AND BAD STUFF TO COVINGTON COUNTY?THE PROBLEM HERE IS WE ALREADY HAVE THE #1 SPOT FOR THAT SORT OF THING IF YOU DON'T BELEIVE ME I HAVE SET ON PLENTY OF GRAND JURYS AND I DO READ THE REST OF THE PAPER!
Posted by deployed09 (anonymous) on June 4, 2009 at 6:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Top story Thursday 4, 2009 " County Schools face 3 million dollar cuts" ok lets ask ourselves. Do we want our kids to have the best education possible? YES Do we want our kids to have the same oppurtunities as the rest of the world? YES Do we want our kids riding the best roads possible to and from school? YES And finally what would help the County and State accomplish this? lottery,electronic bingo. Come on people I read somewhere in this paper every week where our kids need this and our kids need that. This is what will do this for our kids. Or maybe we could ask the bars for a hand out they gamble every week.
Posted by Kathy052 (anonymous) on June 4, 2009 at 7:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let me see.Bingo isn't o.k. in Alabama but it iso.k. for the people to leave and go support another state. Hey why don't ya'll raise a little bit of *())_ for cock fighting(that's right ya'll know what I am talking about and it goes on every weekend and dog fights and guess what all the other sheriffs has known about it and they turn and look the other way) RIGHT oh yea and you can say what you won't about me. But if a person wants to play bingo or slots that is there God given rights.
I see all the hate here. But No one raise *()_ about Prayer being taken out of school and everywhere else. People are losing their things because of hard times. I see that tour bus go by regularly and yes they spend their money in another state. Why don't ya'll let it come here and maybe just maybe it might create jobs help schools. Gambling has been around for decades. So bash me hash me I just have an opion.
Posted by billybob (anonymous) on June 4, 2009 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I totaly agree, the county and city are in economic dire straits. There are several ways to approach this. 1) Raise taxes..I don't believe anyone wants this including me. 2) Reduce county and city services by laying off county and city workers and administrators or unpaid furlow for several months. 3) Reduce county and city salaries to a more reasonable amount. I mean $84K for a county administrator and if you are full time how do you have time to double dip. Reduce the number of commissioners who can't come with any innovative ideas how to solve this other than to sell county property at cents on the dollar and redirrect bond funds from other sources. 4) Bring in industry. Well its obvious that a lot of people here don't want change and that might bring in more people so that would be change for a small town. 5) Exchange $20 bills every thursday...let me know how that works for you. 6) alternative revenue streams ....bingo could be one of them. 7) Issue more municipal and county bonds....to get capital in this environment is going take a high intrest rate and will be a short term fix. In the long term #4 is the only fix. In the short term a combination #2,3,6 and 7 will help but looks like #1 will be the result from the clowns or powers that be.
Posted by roscopcoltrane (anonymous) on June 4, 2009 at 8:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ok, i generally dont comment here but enough is enough...first of all, to winkie who was bragging about all the good changes here in this town over the years?? you talk about from alatex to shaw, count darlin to massey and from dusty roads to interstates, what a crock of sh**. the alatex closed because of no business, we only have two new car dealerships in andalusia instead of five at one time (and massey is losing the gm contract) and we still dont have a four lane to the interstate. obviously we dont have enough here for anyone to worry about coming through or staying here with a thriving business. i have been to biloxi a few times and never have i seen all the "bad people" that's talked about from the ones against gambling. the crime rate is below average and the job rate is higher than here and they have a good education system. the state of alabama is in the business of selling alcohol and make a very good profit, why not the gambling industry and putting a lot more into out state/county for education and the highways? we may even get a four lane from i-65 to the florida line,(via 29-south and hwy137 hopefully) that alone would help out tremendously, but we need a reason for people to stop besides the beach traffic, hell most of the kids graduating dont stay because there is nothing here. i know gambling will not change all that but we have to start somewhere, we sure as hell are not progressing the way it is now and wont if we dont make some changes. "im gone, little fat buddy"
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